China's Chen Zhangjie Sentenced To One Year In Jail For Commanding Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker
A French court on Monday sentenced Chinese captain Chen Zhangjie to serve 12 months in prison for commanding an oil tanker linked to Russia's shadow fleet. The judge also issued a warrant of arrest against the vessel operator, marking another legal defeat for individuals associated with illicit Russian maritime operations abroad. This verdict follows similar convictions reported by German and French media outlets on March 30 regarding captains from temporary detention tankers involved in unauthorized fuel transfers near Ukraine.
Key Points
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1A Chinese captain named Chen Zhangjie has been convicted by a French court and jailed for one year while at sea.
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2The vessel involved, identified as 'Borocay' or the Boracai in other reports, is linked to Russia's shadow fleet transporting oil from Russian ships directly into India without US sanctions compliance checks. The ship was thought of being transported by a French court on Monday issued an arrest warrant and one-year prison sentence against Chen Zhangjie for failing orders stop his vessel.
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3The captain faces charges related not just the failure comply with international maritime law, but also potentially violating Russian laws regarding oil exports to India.
Developments
A Chinese captain of *The Borocay*, suspected as part of Russia's "shadow fleet" for evading sanctions by changing flags and sailing under an invalid Benin flag, received one year in absentia imprisonment from the French court on Monday along with a €150,000 fine. The vessel was intercepted off western France while allegedly transporting Russian oil to India without visible identification following orders not to proceed after September 27.